Pope Leo XIV has appointed Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, to a prominent position in Vatican City, elevating Nigeria’s voice in global Catholic affairs.
Kukah will serve as a member of the Council of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, a key body responsible for shaping the Church’s positions on critical global issues, including human rights, migration, the environment, and social development.
According to a statement from the Diocese of Sokoto, the appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
By this elevation, Kukah “joins other prominent Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops from all over the world to serve a five-year term on the Council.”
He will serve alongside notable clerics such as Robert Walter McElroy, Matteo Zuppi, Konrad Krajewski, and Fulgence Muteba Mugalu.
Kukah’s appointment reflects his longstanding involvement in Vatican assignments.
He was first named to the Council in 2022 following its reconstitution by Pope Francis.
Reacting to the development, Kukah expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, describing the Dicastery’s focus areas as closely aligned with his academic and pastoral interests.
He noted that he looks forward to contributing to the Church’s mission of promoting ethical values and human dignity in a world grappling with inequality and social challenges.
Beyond this role, Kukah has held several international assignments, including earlier appointments by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, as well as representing the Vatican in global interfaith initiatives.
